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"Every part of the state saw dramatic growth, from the beautiful mountains of the Tennessee Valley to the stunning white sand beaches along the Gulf Coast," Ivey said. "Most communities generated more revenue and gained jobs through hosting meetings, conventions, sporting events and visits to museums, among other attractions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today presented the Alabama Department of Commerce with the President's "E" Award for Export Service, the highest recognition an organization can receive for contributing to the expansion of U.S. exports.

At a ceremony in the nation's capital, Secretary Ross said the Alabama Department of Commerce has demonstrated a sustained commitment to increasing exports.

"The 'E' Awards Committee was very impressed with the department's formation of the Export Alabama Alliance," he noted. "The department's contributions to the export growth of Alabama companies through international trade missions were also particularly notable.

A women-owned small business based in Huntsville is leading cybersecurity efforts for an agency of the U.S. military.

The Department of the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic has awarded Sentar Inc. a $47 million contract to provide cybersecurity risk-management operations support services to the Defense Health Agency.

The company had been awarded a similar contract in 2014, which came to an end this month. Sentar beat out 11 other bidders to secure the contract for another two years. Work will resume within a one-year base period and two, one-year option periods.

This week the Airbus Final Assembly Line delivered its 69th jet, which became the first U.S.-built A320 in Allegiant Air's fleet.

Based in Las Vegas, is a low-fare carrier whose routes connect cities all over the country, including New Orleans, Jacksonville, Savannah, San Diego, Orlando, New York, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Austin. The company described its newest jet as "the 11th of 13 new A320 aircraft scheduled for purchase directly from Airbus, to be inducted into Allegiant's fleet this year."

Previously, Allegiant's new jets had been built in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany. Allegiant has 99 Airbus jets in service or on order and plans to be flying an all-Airbus fleet by the end of the year.